Ag Weather Forum

Wet Midwest and Delta Soils

Mike Palmerino
By  Mike Palmerino , DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist
Much of the southern Midwest through the entire southeastern U.S. have additional heavy precipitation forecast through the end of February. (DTN graphic)

Unfavorably wet weather continues over the southern and eastern Midwest, Delta and Southeast states.

There appears to be no end in sight for the wet pattern over the southern and eastern Midwest, Delta and Southeast states. The main storm track separating colder air in the western Midwest from warmer air to the east and southeast looks set to be maintained. This pattern allows for a persistent flow of Gulf moisture into these areas, which is producing some excessive rainfall and flooding in parts of the south Delta at this time.

The Northern Plains and northwest Midwest will maintain a favorably drier pattern as the main storm track remains off to the south and east. In general, we continue to be very concerned about planting delays and disruptions this spring due to continued wet weather on already saturated soils.

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Moisture remains limited in the southern plains winter wheat areas which is normal for this time of the year. There has been some improvement in soil moisture over eastern areas. Some western areas are unfavorably dry. Some beneficial precipitation is expected during the first half of next week. Any cold should be brief and not cause any significant damage to the crop.

Some recent beneficial rain for filling and soybeans has occurred in southern Brazil. An active rainfall pattern in parts of central Brazil could cause some disruptions to the soybean harvest and second crop corn planting but nothing major at this time. With no end in sight to the rainy season, soil moisture will be adequate to surplus for developing second crop corn.

Timely and highly beneficial rains for filling corn and soybeans in central Argentina this past weekend will maintain favorable crop conditions. Conditions will be mostly dry during the next seven days. This trend will favor crops as they move from filling to maturation.

Our latest calculation of the sea surface temperature in the equatorial eastern Pacific for the first half of February 2020 is 0.2 degree Celsius above normal. This is down a little from the plus 0.4 C observed during the month of January but is within normal levels. The degree of cooling during the past couple of months has slowed.

Michael Palmerino can be reached at michael.palmerino@dtn.com

(BA/ES)

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